Matawalle Left Only N4m Behind – Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has recently unveiled the dire financial situation plaguing the state since his assumption of office. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Lawal disclosed that he inherited a near-empty treasury, with only N4 million left by his predecessor, Bello Matawalle.

The governor expressed deep concern over the state’s financial crisis, revealing that the salaries of government workers have gone unpaid for the past four months. Additionally, he highlighted the unfortunate consequences of the financial shortfall, such as the inability of senior secondary school students in Zamfara to take crucial examinations due to outstanding debts.

Lawal expressed his frustration, stating that he has been forced to rely on borrowed funds to run the affairs of the state. “I met the treasury account of the state with no money. I only saw a single account with about N3 to N4 million in it,” he lamented.

The governor emphasized the detrimental effects of the financial crisis, with government agencies experiencing power disconnections due to unpaid bills amounting to hundreds of millions. Furthermore, security agencies have not received their operational allowances for three months.

Responding to claims that the previous administration left behind N20 billion in the state’s treasury, Lawal demanded concrete evidence and public disclosure of the alleged account where such funds were kept. He asserted that if access to those funds were available, he would promptly address the salary arrears of workers and provide adequate support for security agencies.

Lawal also shed light on the water crisis afflicting Zamfara State, specifically the capital city of Gusau, which has been without water supply for approximately four months.

The governor revealed that he had to borrow funds to purchase chemicals for water treatment and sought assistance from Indian partners who had provided machines for water supply. Acquiring the necessary machines would cost over N200 million, but Lawal expressed his commitment to resolving the water issue to the best of his abilities.

In an effort to ease the burden on civil servants, Governor Lawal pledged to prioritize the payment of salaries before the upcoming Eid-al-Kabir festival. He assured workers that he would explore all possible avenues, including seeking support and loans, to fulfill this commitment. The extent of salary payment would depend on the amount of loan obtained. Lawal emphasized that the government has a responsibility to fulfill its obligations and diligently compensate workers for their services.